Tell the President to Pardon C.I.A. Whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling
My husband Jeffrey Sterling is a former C.I.A. operative and an innocent man who was convicted of seven counts of espionage on January 26, 2015 -- for merely communicating with New York Times journalist James Risen. He’s now serving a 3.5-year prison sentence in a federal correctional facility in Colorado.
This is an outrageous miscarriage of justice. My husband was wrongfully sentenced to prison simply because he was in touch with a journalist. During Jeffrey’s trial, the Department of Justice was unable to present any direct evidence proving that he divulged classified information to Risen. They relied on circumstantial evidence -- emails and telephone conversations -- to try to make a case to a jury who would likely favor his conviction.
Jeffrey utilized proper channels and informed the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence of his concern for the safety of the American people -- as such, Jeffrey is a whistleblower.
Please join me and the coalition of organizations led by Reporters Without Borders, RootsAction and ExposeFacts in my request to the Obama Administration to immediately issue a pardon for my husband.
President Obama publicly committed to a transparent government, yet it has been shrouded in mistruth and secrecy. Jeffrey’s conviction is only the latest chapter in the administration’s war on whistleblowers and sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of information. In fact, the Obama administration has prosecuted more whistleblowers under the Espionage Act than all previous administrations combined.
An innocent man who dedicated his life to serving the United States has been wrongfully jailed under President Obama’s watch. This is his opportunity to show Jeffrey, our country, and the world what it means to be a true leader by acknowledging and making amends for a grave injustice that has been done. This can only be accomplished by granting Jeffrey Alexander Sterling an immediate pardon.
Jeffrey and I will not give up hope that many will soon realize the wrong that has been done and will help to make sure that Jeffrey will be vindicated. I will not cease discussing this tragedy in hopes that it will garner enough support for his release. Please sign my petition and share it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by using #pardonforjeffrey as a way to help. Thank you.
— Holly Sterling
President Barack Obama
We request the immediate pardon of Jeffrey Sterling, imprisoned C.I.A. whistleblower.
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Background:
>> AFP: "Pardon Sought for Ex-CIA Officer in Leak Case"
>> Marcy Wheeler, ExposeFacts: "Sterling Verdict Another Measure of Declining Government Credibility on Secrets"
>> Norman Solomon, The Nation: "CIA Officer Jeffrey Sterling Sentenced to Prison: The Latest Blow in the Government's War on Journalism"
>> Reporters Without Borders: "Jeffrey Sterling Latest Victim of the U.S.' War on Whistleblowers"
>> ExposeFacts: Special Coverage of the Jeffrey Sterling Trial
>> BBC News: "Jeffrey Sterling's Trial by Metadata"
>> Documentary film: "The Invisible Man: NSA Whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling"
Endorsing Organizations:
